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Students to Present Fall Dance Concerts

Hope ollege will present its annual Fall Student Dance Concerts on Monday and Tuesday, Nov. 19- 20, at the Knickerbocker Theatre and on Tuesday, Nov. 27, at the DowCenter dance studio at 8 p.m.

The public is invited. Admission is free.

The concerts feature works choreographed and danced by HopeCollege students. Although many of them are dance majors and minors, not all students involved in the concert are conducting studies in the department of dance.

Communication and studio art major Michael Kaffka and dance performance and choreography major Lindsey Ferguson are collaborating on a piece that intertwines two dance styles - hip-hop and jazz - into new, unique movement.

After losing their friend Karen Linder, a sophomore from Sioux City, Iowa, who died in a car accident a few weeks before the beginning of the semester, Jen Kolba and Haley Bartel were compelled to choreograph a piece based on their grieving process. Their work combines modern, lyrical, and contemporary dance.

Other works to be performed include: a modern dance inspired by the game "Red Light, Green Light" by Emma Rainwater titled "Red ? Green"; "Spelunking" by the Ballet Club with choreography by Lindsay Roberts; hip-hop by the Hip-Hop Club; and a whimsical tap piece choreographed by Lacey Williams, which will be performed to live music.

The Advanced Composition class will also contribute pieces to the Student Dance Concert. Anna L Jonkman is presenting "LoveHate," which is set to her own piano composition. Julie Marie Carrico is presenting a multimedia-work with original music by music composition major Chelsea Stephenson; Annie Snow is exploring stretchable bags as costumes; and Krista Stanton's choreography, inspired by her experience as a summer research student for the department of biology, is an abstract portrayal of the process of research and discovery in life.

In addition, "Nine to Five," a work choreographed and performed by the Dance Production class, will premiere in the Knickerbocker venue. Dance Production is a semester-long course taught by Ray Tadio, assistant professor of dance, that involves students in every aspect of production - including publicity, adjudication of dance pieces, sound, lighting, costuming, props, collaborative choreography, and performance.

Several new freshman choreographers will also be showcasing their works at the Dow Concert this year, including Jess Kohnen, Megan Murphy and Sarah Stern.

The Knickerbocker Theater is located in downtown Holland at 86 E. Eighth St. The Dow Center dance studio is on the second floor of the Dow Center, located on the corner of 13th Street and Columbia Avenue.